A thinning agent for apple trees that means growers do not have to rely entirely on hand thinning has been approved in time for the new season.
Dr David Stormonth of Interfarm UK said the product, named MaxCel, also helps growers get the right balance of crop load and fruit size using a plant growth regulator found in nature.
“MaxCel prevents fruitlets below a certain size from developing further, whilst fruitlets above a certain size will successfully grow on,” Stormonth said.
“Consequently expensive hand thinning costs are reduced. Fruit size is also increased due to reduced competition for nutrients and due to an enhanced rate of cell division and growth resulting in increased marketable yields.
"Enhancement of return bloom the following year helps reduce any trend by the orchard towards alternate bearing.
“It also promotes strong return blooms for the following year, so it is not just the one benefit of fruit thinning.”
MaxCel is developed and manufactured by Valent BioScience, which is part of Sumitomo Chemical Company.
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